Collapsible pocket-size toothbrush



June 27, 1961 J. G. GINGRICH 2,989,765

COLLAPSIBLE POCKET-SIZE TOOTHBRUSH Filed Feb. 26, 1957 Fig.4

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Jerry G. Gingrich INVENTOR. 24

26 E M40 fi gm zsm 2,989,765. Patented June 27, 1961 ice 2,989,765COLLAPSIBLE POCKET-SIZE TOOTHBRUSH Jerry G. Gingrich, 244 E. 30 th St.N., Tulsa, Okla.

Filed Feb. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 642,551 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-143) The presentinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a toothbrushconstruction and has reference in particular to a collapsible or foldingtoothbrush which is of requisite length and size when it is being usedbut is fold'able into compact pocket-size form when it is not in use.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally andotherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior arttoothbrushes and, in so doing, to provide a simple, economical andpractical adaptation in which manufacturers will find theirmanufacturing requirements and economies effectually taken care of andusers will find their traveling and carrying needs suitably met.

Briefly, the toothbrush is of sectional construction. That is to say, itis characterized by a relatively short handle section and acorrespondingly short companion head section. The head section isprovided with a suitable bristle brush. This brush is located at one endof the handle section. The adjacent end portions of the two sectionsoverlap each other and are hingedly joined. Practical and reliableretaining means is provided and is cooperable with the overlappedhingedly joined end portions and serves to retain the sections in eithercoextensive alignment for use, or, alternatively, serves to retain saidsections in folded compact relationship when they are not in use.

The invention features the construction above stated wherein the handlesection is characterized by a linearly straight handle member havingflat top and bottom surfaces. A limited outer end portion of the topsurface is beveled and this bevel cooperates with a complemental bevelon a substantially wedge-shaped terminal at one end of the shank of thebrush section. The shank assumes an oblique angle in respect to the topsurface of the handle section when the two sections are folded. In thefolded arrangement the bristles of the brush reside in contact with acoacting end portion of the surface of the handle section and because ofthe wedge-shape formation on the shank and since the shank is inclinedrelative to the plane of the handle section, the bristled brush and headand handle sections provide a pocket-like space of general V-shaped formin side elevation into which a miniature tube of toothpaste may beplaced and conveniently packaged in readiness for use.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved pocketsize easy-to-carrytoothbrush constructed in accordance with the invention and showing thecompanion head and handle sections folded.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view wherein the sections are unfolded andstraightened out to provide a ready-to-use toothbrush resembling aconventional toothbrush with a rigid one-piece handle.

FIG. 3 is a view on a slightly enlarged scale in section and elevationshowing the hinge connection and also the position and manner of holdingthe tube of toothpaste.

FIG. 4 is an end view, that is a view observing the construction seen inFIG. 3 in a direction from right to left.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the manner in which the hinged jointfunctions. 7

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the beveled end port-ion of thehandle section.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the cooperating hingedlyconnectible end portion of the brush section.

Referring now to the drawing and with particular reference to FIG. 3showing the folded or collapsible brush, the handle section is denotedby the numeral 8 and the brush section by the numeral 10. These sectionsare of appropriate materials. The handle section is characterized by alinearly straight handle member 12 the top surface 14 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4)of which is essentially flat and the bottom wholly flat. The end portionof this surface 14 is tapered outwardly and downwardly as at 16 to afeather-edge terminal 18. This thus thinned and tapered end portion isprovided with a hole 20 which extends from the top to the bottom surfacewhere it is slightly counterbored as at 22. This hole serves toaccommodate the integral laterally projecting headed stud 24 carried bythe inward bevel 26 of the substantially wedgeshaped terminal 28 at theleft hand end of the shank 30. This Wedge-shaped portion is alsofeather-edged as at 32. Obviously, the stud 24 passes through the hole20 and provides a hinge joint as shown in FIG. 7. The

stud 24 has a small radial lug 34 which constitutes a detent adapted toreleasably snap into either one of the radial recesses or keeper seats36 and 38 at what may be called the upper end of the pivot hole 20.Since the sections 8 and 10 are made of commercial plastics of anappropriate grade, the joint is reliably tight yet is sufficientlyactuatable that the two sections 8 and 10 may be disposed in opposedfolded relationship or may be swung into usable axial alignment as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. The retainer means 34, 36 and 38functions to retain the sections in their predetermined relative openand closed positions. Thus when the sections 8 and 10 are in alignmentas seen in FIG. 2 a substantially conventional type toothbrush is had.When, however, the sections are folded or collapsed as seen in FIGS. 1,3 and 4 the sections are then in compact relationship. It will benoticed in this connection that the end portion 40 of the brush sectionshank is (often called the back of a brush) provided with a suitablebristle brush 42. When the bristles are in the folded position (FIGS. 1,3 and 4) they rest upon the surface 14. The brush 42, the inclined shank30 and the hinged wedge shaped terminal 28 thus cooperate with thehandle section in defining a sort of a V-shaped space or pocket and thisin turn provides a holder and carrier for the insertable and removableminiature tube of toothpaste 44.

As is evident, the herein disclosed toothbrush is an innovation whichfulfills the purposes for which it is intended. The construction of theparts is clear and the manner in which they are assembled is likewiseclear. In these circumstances a more extensive description of thedetails or mode of use is thought to be unnecessary.

Changes of shape, size, materials and rearrangement of components may beresorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A folding sectional toothbrush comprising a relatively short handlesection comprising a straight handle section generally rectangular incross-section and having flat top and bottom surfaces parallel to eachother, a limited portion of the top surface at the outer end of saidhandle section being bevelled and having a hinge pin hole extendingthrough said top and bottom surfaces midway between the respective endsof the bevel, the end portion of the hole opening through said bottomsurface being provided with diametrically opposite recesses providingselectively usable keeper seats, a head section commensurate in lengthwith the length of the handle section and comprising a shank overlyingthe top surface of the handle section, the major portion of said shankbeing disposed at an angle oblique to the lengthwise axis of the handlesection and being spaced from said handle section, said shank beingprovided at one end with a head made up of bristles, said bristles beinginterposed between the shank and the corresponding end of said handlesection, the portion of the shank carrying said bristles beingapproximately parallel to the top surface of said handle section, theother end of the shank having top and bottom surfaces converging towardsaid other end and of lengths corresponding to the length of said bevel,the lower surface of said convergent surfaces having an inclination ofwhich corresponds to the inclination of the bevel and contacting thebevel throughout its major areal portion and being thus superimposedthereon, said handle and head sections being thus disposed in superposedrelationship and providing a folded pocket-size brush, said other endhaving a lateral stud formed integrally therewith and said studextending through and being rotatable in said hole, the end of the studadjacent the bottom surface of said handle section having a lateral lugproviding a detent, said detent being seated in a cooperating one of thekeeper seats whereby to thus hold the two sections in compact foldedrelationship.

2. A folding toothbrush comprising a head section embodying a headhaving a straight fiat-faced back provided on one side with bristles atright angles to the lengthwise axis of the back, having a shank alignedwith and extending from one end of the back, said shank being disposedat an obliqe angle in respect to the back and having the end remote fromsaid head provided with a wedge-shaped member constituting an extensionof the shank, the vertex of said wedgeshaped member terminating in aplane generally coplanar with the free tip portions of the bristles insaid head, at least one surface of said wedge-shaped member providing abevel which is planar except for a median portion thereof, said medianportion having a laterally projecting hinging and assembling stud whichis integral with said bevel, and a handle section aligned lengthwisewith said shank and having a bevel corresponding in slope with the slopeof the first named bevel and provided with a hole, said stud beingmounted for rotation in said hole, and coacting means between the studand marginal surface portions of said handle section releasablymaintaining the sections in handle forming relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS666,360 Shearer Ian. 22, 1901 827,480 Traut July 31, 1906 949,587Ludington Feb. 15, 1910 2,454,995 Curran Nov. 30, 1948 2,503,924 StaceyApr. 11, 1950 2,542,038 Lewis Feb. 20, 1951 2,576,551 Walters Nov. 27,1951 2,742,936 Cooley Apr. 24, 1956

